Just to clear the air I'm not some holier than thou mainline monster. If I was coming from a place of feelings I would want anyone with a green ticket exercising Operational Control to be making $100k+ a year. That's just not the world in which we live. Also, I'm not against you UPS guys getting paid, it is better for all of us. This is a place for discussion and I don't think that I'm just being the devil's advocate for the sake of being controversial. I'm a pragmatist and think there are points of contention that might be overlooked just going in cups of kool-aid full.
1. "Industry" - There is no standard of what constitutes a "Mainline" Carrier. We all probably have definitions in our head and we would probably agree for the most part. So for our purposes, what qualifies a mainline dispatch office? Is it aircraft type? Aircraft payload capabilities? Area of operation? Fleet size? Payscale? The number of dispatchers on payroll? Company Profits, or a whole other host of parameters?
I make that point because SkyWest has taken XJTs old place as a Super Regional, they check off a lot of the same boxes as a "Mainline" Office, but are nowhere near the pay. Southwest ticks all the boxes but the area of operation. UPS/Fed Ex, most every box but fleet count, and probably number of dispatchers. That is all being taken into consideration without, pax vs boxes.
2. "Leading Contract" - When a leading contract is brought up do you just mean the number at Top of Scale? The pension thing is a pretty big deal, I am admittedly no expert, but if we all live very long lives like I hope, a good 401k match doesn't contend with a funded pension for, hopefully, 20 - 30 years. Not even being supplemented by profit sharing will it be close. Then we have to consider the quality of life language such as workload, schedule, pay overrides, vacation, commuting, etc.
All things being considered, I have literally no clue about UPS/Fed Ex payscale or workload, Is it really just a measuring contest about who has the higher number? It has been like 8 years or so since you last contract, right? So absolutely the pay scale has to be refreshed, but WITH a pension what top of scale number makes it "Industry" leading? Would your group give up a pension to top out at $160-$170k/ year? Or if not giving up a pension, then what quality of life language would or could be sacrificed?
I have the utmost respect for everyone that exercises Operational Control, we have great jobs that come with great and serious responsibility. Aside from the regionals and a few LCCs (another point of contention) we are paid very well and have great work rules. There is always room for improvement and sometimes the number at Top of Scale isn't whats best. When we talk about what we "deserve" let us not forget great people who get stuck at the regional level their entire career. Coming from a regional operation, I know and respect the grind of low wages, high workload, and scarce resources. More power to fighting the man, but a high-level overview of the combination of pay, workload/rules, and benefits is what makes a contract leading, not just the Top of Scale number.